Lucky Seven: Las Cruces' Downtown Ramble debuts January art exhibits

Art walks come and go, but the Downtown Ramble has become a local institution.

Inspired by the Doña Ana Arts Council's annual ArtsHop, founded in 1994, the event has evolved along with the dream of a downtown cultural corridor. Now, it's a reality. The ugly arches are down, Main Street is open to two-way traffic again, and we have a host of museums, shops, art galleries and restaurants to enjoy.

If you haven't visited lately, the Downtown Ramble, from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, is a great opportunity to check out the state of arts in Las Cruces.

Featured at the Branigan Cultural Center is "Pueblo to Pueblo: The Legacy of Southwest Indian Pottery" and "Life in Reflection: the Photography of Mary Daniels Taylor."

It's worth venturing off Main Street to check out some of the newer galleries, like Aralia Gallery, 224 N. Campo, which offers paintings, ceramics, hand-made traditional New Mexico style furniture, fabric art, weaving, metal and glass art and sculpture.

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Continuing at the Las Cruces Museum of Art will be "Las Cruces Collects," offering a look into personal and public collections, featuring artwork in a wide variety of media and styles.

The new Las Cruces Museum of Nature & Science is featuring three primary permanent exhibits: Desert Life, Permian Trackways, and Light & Space exhibits. All of the permanent exhibit text and labels are presented in both English and Spanish.

Maps are available at participating galleries or mphillipsgallery.com.